Written Answers

Monday 15 May 2000

Scottish Executive

Criminal Records

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will provide a progress report on the implementation in Scotland of Part V of the Police Act 1997, which provides for extended access to criminal record checks.

Mr Jim Wallace: We have reviewed the position and have decided to plan the introduction of the new checks in Scotland so that it comes into line with the plans for implementation in England and Wales. This is because we consider the two operations need to be developed in parallel to allow for as much integration as possible. Part V certificates will be phased in and July 2001 is now the target date for commencing the service in Scotland.

Education

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what progress is being made on the school exclusion strategy.

Peter Peacock: We are investing £23 million over three years (1999-2000–2001-02) in the Alternatives to Exclusion programme. The objective of this programme is to help authorities develop practical initiatives which provide alternatives to exclusion. Projects being supported include in and out of school support units, programmes of personal and social development, enhanced staffing in schools and in support of schools, vocational schemes involving work placements, behaviour support systems and outreach services into schools.

Education

Mrs Margaret Smith (Edinburgh West) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive how much extra money has been allocated for textbooks in schools and when it will be available.

Peter Peacock: In general, education authorities and schools make the detailed decisions on spending, including spending on textbooks for schools from within their general education budgets. Additional resources for schools were announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the budget in March. These will be used by schools to assist their approaches to raising standards. The extent to which they might be used to purchase textbooks will be a matter for local decision in line with local priorities identified by schools. Schools will also benefit from additional investment in Higher Still materials and in broadband technology made possible by resources identified in the Partnership Agreement.

Local Government

Mr Kenneth Gibson (Glasgow) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many-full time equivalent posts were lost in Argyll and Bute, Glasgow City, Inverclyde, North Lanarkshire, South Lanarkshire and West Dunbartonshire Councils from 1996-97 to 1999-2000 inclusive.

Mr Frank McAveety: The table below shows the change in the full-time number of staff reported by each council.

  


Council


Change: December 
1996 to September 1999




Argyll & Bute


+55 (+1.45%)




Glasgow City


-2,327 (-7.0%)




Inverclyde


-79 (-2.0%)




North Lanarkshire


-267 (-2.0%)




South Lanarkshire


-120 (-1.0%)




West Dunbartonshire


-32 (-0.7%)




  Source: Drawn from local authority staffing surveys compiled jointly by the Scottish Executive and the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities.

  Notes:

  1. Figures for full time equivalent staff exclude staff in fire services, police services, Bridge Joint Boards and Valuation Joint Boards.

  2. The data for 1996 is taken from December as earlier figures for that year are considered less reliable due to classification problems encountered by some local authorities in the period immediately following local government reorganisation.

Marine Safety

Mr David Davidson (North-East Scotland) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive why the Northern Lighthouse Board has no representatives of the seagoing communities serving on it, and what action it will take to ensure that those who rely on lighthouses are properly represented on the board in future.

Neil Davidson: That is not correct. The current board membership includes a number of representatives from the seagoing community who have a special knowledge and experience of nautical matters.

Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body

Holyrood Project

Brian Adam (North-East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Presiding Officer what the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body’s planned programme of consultation with MSPs will be over the next Holyrood Parliament to ensure that the project is completed within the stated timescale.

Sir David Steel: The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body will continue to report to MSPs about the Holyrood Project, including the achievement of construction progress within the agreed timescale. Information will also be provided on specific issues when appropriate. Our next report should be available shortly.